Fastener assembly



Sept. 27, 1938. P. E. FENTON 2,131,347

FASTENER ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 24, 1937 INVENTOR fm ,79H4 "W" ATTORNEYSPatented Sept. V27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEv FAs'rENEn ASSEMBLYi Paul E. Fenton, Thomaston, Conn., assignor to Scovill ManufacturingCompany, Waterbury,

Conn., a corporation o! Connecticut Application November 24, 1937,Serial No. 176,189

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in separable fastener assembliescomprising stud and socket members suitably aillxed to their supportingsheets and having complemental resilient parts which may be temporarilyengaged or disengaged in the usual manner; and in its more particularaspects to improvements in the construction and manner of making themembers of the assembly.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an assembly of thistype in which the somewhat delicate, cooperating, resilient parts ofthe.,

may be used for ailixing them to their respective supporting sheets.

It is. a further object of the invention to provide a fastener memberwith a resilient marginal retaining ring which may be compressed, andits axial dimension reduced, during the course of f anv operationwherein the member is affixed to a supporting sheet, so as toaccommodate the member to the thickness of that sheet.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a member with amarginal retaining ring having a free edge comprising a series ofresilient fingers which may be bent inwardly, during the attachingoperation, to accommodate supporting sheets of varying thicknesses; andto construct this member from an initially flat blank having a serrated,or scalloped, periphery which may be curled inwardly to form thisretaining ring.

- The full nature of the invention, along with other objects and variousfeatures thereof, will be more fully understood from a consideration ofthe following description in the light of the accompanying drawing, inwhich:-

Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views of the stud and socket members whichare parts of the assembly;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a pronged attaching cap adapted to beused in ailixing the members of Figs. 1 and 2 to their respectivesupporting sheets;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the members oi.' Figs. 1 and 2 aiiixed totheir respective supporting sheets and mutually engaged to form theassembly of the present invention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views-of socket and stud members havingthe essential features of the members of Figs. 1 and 2 and, inqaddition,retaining rings with resilientfree edges constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention; l

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a' sheet metal blank from which a member of thetype s lfiownl in Figs. 5 or 6 may be made; and. l

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the attachment of the member ofFig. 6 to a supporting sheet.

'I'he assembly of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 4. Thereit may be seen to comprise a stud member IIJ having a central post witha contracted neck portion; and a cooperating socket member II having a.plurality ofv resilient fingers engaging the neck of the stud so as tohold the 'sheets to which the members are attached in a desiredrelation; 'andvfurthen the stud member has a marginal breast portionwhich is adapted to contact a. similar breast. of the socket to form aVery strong cylindrical wall' completely surrounding the more delicatecooperating parts and protecting them from damag-v ing stresses.

The socketA member of the assembly (Fig.v 1)

preferably comprises a central cylindrical wall I2, axially slitted atI3 to form a plurality of resilient ngers I4, and inturned along itslower edge to provide each of these fingers with a studengaging bead I5;a curved breast portion I6 flaring arcuately downwardly and outwardlyfrom the upper'end of the cylindrical wall; and a, generally U-shapedretaining ring I'I extending.

upwardly and inwardly from, the outer edge of the breast with its freeinner edge Adisposed -in spaced relation to an outwardly sloping part ofthe rear surface of `that breast so as to denne 'a f relatively wideannular entrance slot I8 through" cylindrical wall I2; and outwardly tosuch an extent that the width of'this member is considerably greaterthan the radius, and almost equal to the diameter, of the centralAcylindrical what delicate stud-engaging fingers I4 lie well within andbehind they planes dening the front surface of this breast, and will, inuse, be protected by that latter element. For a more detailed andcomplete description of this member,v

reference maybe had to Patent No. 2,106,728.

The preferred form of stud member is illustrated in Fig. 2, andcomprisesa central post I9 Wall. Accordingly, it will be seen that thesomel vsa with an lmperforate head 2|, a contracted neck 2 l and adepending outwardly flaring skirt 22; an imperforate breast portion 2lextending upwardly and outwardly from the lower end of the skirt; and aU-shaped retaining ring 2l extending downwardly and inwardly from theouter margin of the breast and terminating in spaced relation to theunder surface of that element so as to define a relatively wide annularentrance slot 2l to l the retaining ring. In constructing this memberthe breast is flared outwardly to such an extent that the uppermostpoints (as viewed in Fig. 2) of its front face lie in a plane Y-Y whichis located below the plane of the contracted neck 2l il of the post, andoutwardly for such distance as is necessary to make the radial dimensionof this breast equal to that of the breast of the socket. Specifically,and it may readily be understood by reference to Fig. 4, the plane Y-Ylies as far be- D low the neck of the stud post as the plane X-X liesbelow the ends ofthe resilient lingers of the socket member.

The attachment of the members to their respective supporting sheets maybe had by means of a pronged attaching cap -26 such as the one shown inFig. 3, comprising -a radial ange 21 having a plurality of arcuatelyspaced prongs 28 extending axially therefrom. The attachment is-accomplished by positioning the member, the stud l il, for example, onone side of its supporting'sheet 22 with its entrance slot 2l facing thesheet, and then driving the pointed prongs 22 through the sheet, throughthe entrance slot, and against an outwardlysloping part of the undersideof the Il breast so as to turn them outwardly into the retaining ring2l, and thus clamp the sheet between the flange 21 and the under sideofthe retaining ring. The socket il may be afilxed to its supportingsheet 30 in exactly the same way.

da 'Ihe advantages of the present assembly may .coincide so that theoutermost surfaces of the breasts il and 22 are brought into contactingrelation. 'I'hese breasts then, in conjunction with 50 the retainingrings I1 and 24, and the attaching caps 2l, formastrong cylindricalwall, comprising eight thicknesses of metal, completely surlrounding themore delicate centrally located fingers and stud. Further than that, itwill be seen ss that the flanges 21 of the attaching caps which form theends of this wall, in each case overhang the adjacent end parts of thefingers and stud. The delicate parts then are not only surrounded by thecylindrical wall, but are completely en- 60 closed therewithin.Accrdingly, if this assembly, attached to an article ofclothlng, forexample, is passed through the mangie of a washing machine as notinfrequently happens, the superposed layers of metal comprising the wallwill a absorb the entire stress imposed and completely protect the moredelicate parts.

Another functional advantage of the assembly flows from the fact thatthe line of contact between the breasts is spaced well out from the line70 of contact between the fingers and stud, and

hence it tends to stabilize the assembly and prevent one member fromtilting-off of the other.

'I'he socket and stud members are both preferably of one-piececonstruction, and are made by 75 drawing, pressing and rollingappropriate sheet metal blanks to form the central cooperating parts,and the breasts, and then spinning or curling the edges oi the `blankrearwardly and inwardly to complete the retaining rings.

' The members illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 were l constructed frominitially flat circular blanks. In completing the retaining ringsthereof some considerable trouble was encountered due to the tendency ofthe continuous edges of the blanks to split and wave during the curlingoperation. l0 Further, when completed, the rings were found to be undulystiif. That stiffness, while desirable in some 4respecta-isobjectionable in others. Specifically, it interferes with the attachmentof the member to certain classes of supporting l5 sheets. If, forexample, it is applied to a fairly thick sheet, or, as frequentlyhappens, to a doubled over part, the stiif ring refuses to give in thecourse of the operation, and the material intervening between the ringand the flange of the attaching cap is accordingly subjected toexcessive pressures. .Cme of two things is liable to happen. 'Ihe capwill cut through the sheet, .or the pressure on the material may springthe one element away from the other. Either is disastrous.

The foregoing diiliculties may be avoided by making the members from ablank, such as the one shown in Ng. '1, having initially scalloped orserrated edges. In that blank, enough material .30 is removed from theedge to avoid waving: and as will readily beevident, this edge can becurled without difficulty. When completed, the free edge of the ringcomprises a series of resilient fingers, 3| in the socket of Fig. 5, and22 in the .36 stud of Fig. 6. When a member of this type, a stud lila,for example, is applied to a thick supporting sheet, the fingers bendupwardly to accommodate any excess material as shown in Fig.

8. y It is of importance to note that only the n- 4o gers give in thismanner. .Thefront surface of the breast retains its position in theplane Y-Y so as to be capable of engaging the like surface of the breastof the stud in the manner and for the purposes shown and described inconnection ,4s with F18. 4.

The marginal parts of the constituent members of this assembly, that isthe breast and the retaining rings, are substantially identical. Ac-

cordingly, the curling of the edges of the blanks 50. for either a studor a socket can be performed on a single machine, or type of machine,and this is true regardle of whether it is made from a circular orscalloped blank. 'Ihe avoidance of the necessity for different machinesto make the rings for sockets and studs, of course, results in a savingin manufacturing costs. Further, as will be evident .from Figs. 4 and 8,a single type of attaching cap may be used for aiiixing either member toits supporting sheet. 'I'his assembly, so then, requires the manufactureand stocking, of a lesser number of dinerent lparts than is usual; andsavings both in manufacturing and inventory costs `can be effected.

Since certain changes may be made inthe kals construction andarrangement without in any way departing from the teaching of theinvention, it is intended that the foregoing shall be4 construed in adescriptive rather than a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. A redlient fastener fassembly comprising socket and stud membershaving centrally located resilient: parts cooperating to hold themembers together, breast portions extending radially outwardly from thecentral parts of the members and axially forwardly so as to contactalong their outerfaces, and retaining rings extending reversely inwardlyfrom the outer edges of the breasts, said breast and retaining ringsforming, collectively, a cylindrical wall completely surounding andprotecting the centrally located cooperating parts.

2. A resilient fastener assembly comprising a socket member havingcentrally located resilient stud engaging parts, a breast portionsurrounding said parts with its outermost surface lying in front of theparts, and an annular retaining ring extending rearwardly and inwardlyfrom the outer margins of the breast; and a stud member having a centralpost with a contracted neck engaged by the resilient parts of thesocket, a breast portion surrounding said post with its outermostsurface lying behind the contracted neck and engaging the outermostsurface of the breast of the socket, and an annular retaining ringextending rearwardly and inwardly from'the margins of this breast, saidbreasts and retaining rings forming a cylindrical wall completelysurrounding and protecting said stud post and the resilient parts of thesocket which engage it.

3. A resilient fastener assembly comprising a socket member having aplurality of centrally disposed resilient stud-engaging fingers, abreast portion extending outwardly and downwardly from the upper ends ofsuch fingers with its outermost surface lying below the lowermost endsthereof, and a retaining ring extending upwardly and inwardly from theouter edge of the breast; and a stud member having a centrally disposedpost with a contracted neck engaged by the lower ends of the fingers ofthe socket, a breast portion extending upwardly and outwardly from thelower end of the post with its outermost surface engaging a like part ofthe breast of the` socket, and a retaining ring extending downwardly andinwardly from the edge of the breast, said breast and retaining ringsserving collectively asa cylindrical wall completely surrounding andprotecting the more delicate fingers of the socket and neck of the post.

4. A resilient fastener assembly comprising, in combination, a socketmember having a plurality of centrally disposed resilient stud engagingiingers, an inperforate breast portion extending radially outwardly anddownwardly from the rear ends of the fingers with its lowermost surfacelying below the lowermost ends of the fingers, and a U-shaped retainingring extending upwardly and inwardly from the outer margin of the breastwith its inner edge disposed in spaced relation to the upper surface ofthe breast so as to define an entrance slot; a sheet of supportingmaterial disposed over the socket member; and an attaching cap having aradial flange Aengaging said sheet and e. plurality of arcuately spacedprongs extending therethrough with their free ends lying in and held bythe retaining ring; and, a stud member having a centrally locatedupstanding postwith a contracted neck engaged by the fingers of thesocket member, an imperforate breast extending radially outwardly andupwardly from the lower end of the post with its uppermost surface lyingbelow the contracted neck of the post and engaging the lowermost surfaceof the breast of the socket member, and a U-shaped retaining ringextending downwardly and inwardly from the outer edge of the breast withits inner edge spaced fromthe under surface of the breast; a sheet ofsupporting material disposed over the stud member and facing theentrance slot; and an attaching cap having a radial flange engaging saidsheet, and a plurality of prongs passing therethrough with their freeends confined within the retaining ring; said breasts, said ring andsaid attaching caps forming, collectively, a strong cylindrical wallcompletely enclosing the fingers of the socket and the neck of the post.

5. A resilient fastener assembly comprising, in combination, a one-piecesheet metal socket member having .a plurality of centrally disposedresilient stud-engaging fingers; an imperforate breast portion extendingradially outwardly and downwardly from the upper ends of the fingerswith its lowermost surface lying below the lowermost free ends of thefingers, and a U-shaped retaining ring extending upwardly and inwardlyfrom the outer edge of the breast and terminat ing with its inner edgedisposed in spaced relation to the upper side ofthe breast and with itsuppermost surface spaced Just below the upper ends of the stud engagingfingers; a sheet of supporting material disposed over the socket member;and an attaching cap having a radial flange engaging said sheet at apoint above and outside of the upper ends of the resilient iingers, anda plurality of prongs extending through the sheet with their free endslying in and held by the retaining ring; and a stud member having acentrally located upstanding post with a contracted neck engaged by thelower free ends of the resilient fingers of the socket; an imperforatebreast extending outwardly and upwardly from the lower end of the postwith its uppermost surface lying below the contracted neck of the postand engaging the under surface of the breast of the socket, and aU-shaped retaining ring extending downwardly and inwardly from the outeredge of the breast `and terminating in spaced` relation with theunderside of that part; a sheet of supporting material underlying thestud; and an attaching cap having a radial flange engaging said sheet,and a plurality of prongs passing through the sheet with their free endsconfined within the retaining ring of the stud; said breasts, saidretaining rings, and said attaching caps forming, collectively, a strongcylindrical wall completely enclosing the centrally located fingers ofthe socket and head of the stud post.

6. A resilient fastener assembly comprising a socket member having acentral, circular series of substantially axially disposed, resilientfingers each provided with an internal stud-engaging bead in its free,front end, a. breast portion surrounding said fingers with its frontsurface lying forwardlyof the free ends of the fingers, and an annularretaining ring extending rearwardly and inwardly from the outer marginsof the breast; and a stud member having a central post with a contractedneck engaged by the free ends of' the-resilient nngers of the socket, abreast portion surrounding said post with its front surface lying behindthe contracted neck of the post and engaging the front surface of thebreast of the socket, and an annular retaining ring extending rearwardlyand inwardly from the margins of this breast; said breasts and retainingrings forming 'a cylindrical wall completely surrounding and protectingsaid stud post and the resilient fingers of the socket which en-

